
Julian Gaudio Wed, October 28, 2026 at 8:24 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels like the Florida Panthers aren't clicking at full power just yet. Whether it's due to injuries to Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov or simply because they are still looking for their best combinations, the feeling is they have more to offer.
Despite that, the Panthers are 7-4-2 and sit in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 16 points.
Their offense ranks 17th in the NHL, averaging three goals per game, and their defense ranks eighth, allowing 2.85 goals per game. Offensively, the Panthers have more to offer, and we are seeing it recently.
The Panthers won their last two contests, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 and the Winnipeg Jets 5-1, but the next handful of games offer an even better opportunity.
The Panthers return to Sunrise after a four-game road trip for a three-game homestand. Those three opponents are the Jets, Detroit Red Wings , and Blackhawks. The Panthers have already beaten two of them, and the third sits in last place in the Atlantic Division.
After those three games, the Panthers face two difficult road matchups against the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins, challenging but not unbeatable teams.
After that, they face the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets , and St. Louis Blues .
Expecting the Panthers to win each of these games is unrealistic, but if they are striving for a spot near the top of the Division, they need to earn as many points as possible over the next stretch.
After Troubling Start To Season, Florida Panthers No Longer Having Issues Scoring Early In GamesAfter weeks of chasing deficits, the Cats have ignited their offense. A sudden first-period scoring surge and revitalized power play are finally forcing opponents to play Florida's game.
There are plenty of things going right for the Panthers right now, despite numerous injuries. The Tkachuk brothers are on fire and at times carry the Panthers offensively. Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart have also been fairly potent, while Seth Jones is playing at a very high level .
At the same time, the Panthers need to improve in some areas. They aren't getting enough depth scoring. Sam Bennett has just three goals and six points in 13 games; Anton Lundell has scored just once and has only three points; Eetu Luostarinen has struggled; and outside of Lars Eller, their fourth line has produced little to nothing.
This stretch of games provides an excellent opportunity to do so.
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Source: Sports